Improved boot-stretcher



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cal plane, as shown in lig. 2, and connected togetherI bearing, 0, as shown in'fig. 1.

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Letters Patent N 99,084,

lated January 25, 1870.

IMPRO'VED BOOT-STRETCHER.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making parl; of the same.

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, JOHN HARwOoD, of Albany, in the county of Albany, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boot and Shoe-Stretchers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which- Figure l is a vertical central section of' my inven- Figure 2 is a horizontal section, taken on the plane of line x x in iig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view of front portion of fig. 2, having levers Z Z, in place of wedge L.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures. Y

rIhe principal object of my invention is soto construct a boot and shoe-stretcher, that either the toe or the instep, or both, of a shoe or boot may be stretched, as desired; and this is to be effected by using one stretcher, instead of two separate ones, as the common practice now is. This object I accomplish by constructing my improved stretcher as follows:

The last or stretcher is lnadein three parts, designated by letters A A and B. 'lhe upper part B is divided from the two lower parts A A, on the plane ofthe line a a a a, as shown in fig. 1.

To keep the upper part I3 of the stretcher in its place, I screw, or otherwise fasten into its front end, a wire, N, bent at right angles, the bent end of which moves in 'a hole made in one of' the two lower parts A A of the stretcher. v

The two lower portions A A of the lastor stretcher consists of two'equal parts, divided by a central vertiat the heel by a suitable hinge, R.

The mechanism by which l operate my improved stretcher is clearly shown in figs. 1, 2, and, and consists of a horizontal rod or shaft, O, having a wedgeshaped head, L, as shown in iig. 2, or connected to two links, Z Z, forming a toggle-joint, as shown in fig. 3, which latter mode is, perhaps, preferable.

The wedge L, or levers Z Z, are connected by a long nut, Y, to the i'ront end of rod or shaft O.

Shaft O Vis supported, at its back end, by a suitable Near the back end of shaft C, I construct the upright shaft D and its attachments, as follows:

Shaft D runs through the top of the stretcher B,

through a suitable oblong aperture.

At the bot-tom of shaft D I'securc a bevel-wheel, K, which engages with a similar wheel fastened upon shaft C, as seen in 1 and 2.

On the upper end of shaft D, I attac-h a cross-handle, or a wheel, H, as seen`in fig. 1. v

Between the wheel H and the top of the instepstretcher B, I employ a hollow rod or sleeve, J, which slides easily upon shaft D.

rlhe upper end of sleeve J is enlarged, and has a screw-thread cut in it, as shown at E, in fig. 1, for the, reception of'screw F, as shown in the same figure.

The lower end of sleeve J is connected, by links M, to the back part of instep-stretcher B, as shown in fig. 1. l

hedge L slides in a horizontal slot, T, in each half of the toc-stretcher A A, as shown in fig. 2.

The three parts, A, A, and B, of the stretcher, may be made of solid wood, similar to a shoemakers last; or they may be made hollow, and of cast-iron, or other suitable metal.

Atany convenient point on the shaft D, I secure a collar, \V, which serves as a bearing to support screw F, to preventit from sliding down the shaft D.

Screw I" is centrally perfbrated, with an aperture a little larger' in diameter than shaft D.

It will be seen from the above, that when the handle or wheel lis turned, the wedge L will be propelled forward or backward by the nut Y, and the toes of the stretcher will be separated, or permitted to close together, as may-be required.

lt may also be seen that a great advantage will be gained bythe use of' my improved stretcher, inasmuch as a boot may be stretched across the toes or in the instep, and then, wit-hout losing the stretch so o'btained, the handle or wheel G or H, A,as the case may require, can be operated to stretch its'. corresponding connected parts, that is, either the toe or the instep.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Iatcnt, is-

rllhe shaft D, bevel-wheels K and I, shaft O and wedge L, or links Z Z, and lowcr sections A A, in combinz'rt-ion with sleeve J, screw F, links M, and upper section B, of a boot and shoe-stretcher, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein shown.

JOHN HAR\VOOD.

Witnesses Hormon G. OoURTnIGnT, Tiros. HoUGHToN. 

